Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-12-21
t,p,rvEn FROM RICHMOND.


rem arkable by good speech.makiug, and as
the speeches are now the absorbing topic l
send stenographic report of the best speech
of the day which was delivered by Senator
James L. Gordon, of Albemarle, 10 second
ing the nomination of Hon. John S. Barbour
for the United States Senate. Mr.. Gordon
is one of the youngest members Of the legis
lature. He is of the John Daniel school of
orators and his effort to-day is regarded as
one of the best speeches that has been de-
liyered in the Virginia Senate for many
yearH, equaling iu eloquence and power the
famous reply of Hon. John ". Daniel to
Hon. Fl. II. Riddeberger in the Virginia
Senate in 1879, when the readjusters were
turning Hill Carter out of office. MIR. Cor
don spoke as follows:
Mr.. President:-There are few victories
which bring not their attendant disaproint-
menis, no defeats which have not their con
so!alons In the apportionnent OF rewards
for service, steadifstly done in the political
battle recently closed in Virginia, the ma.
iority party here is compelled Of necessity
to overlook the claims of many an able,
faithful and patriotic friend. But thaaks be
to God, who hath given rs the victory, that
party we can proudly and justly claimis not
held together by the mere cohesive power
of public plunder," but that as a patriotic
brotherhood, it has, over q hundred years,
in this kingless land battled to sustain great
princples-chiefest among which il tie
principle that life. liberty aud the pursui; Of
happiness shall be as free 10 every man be-
nexth this western dome OF heaven as is the
summer sunshine, as unassailabie Us Gcd's
eternal stars. Individual dsappointments
must, OF course, always follow in the wake
CT party success. But whatever Of heart
burning may be engendered over the selec.
ton OF the officers who are 10 administer the
affairs of the Commonwealth, this thing
seems to he certain that there is one Office
which seeks one nan by the common consent
of all his party ftiends-that office the high
eat in the gift of this people, that man the
foremost in their hearts-and know that
voice tho triumphant and passionate acca
nation of the democratic hosts from the
Tennessee border to the ocean when, for the
position Of United States Senator from Vir-
eipia, l record the nomination of John
Strobe Barbour, of Alexandria. If it be
meet that should add anything to what
has been so we'll said of him on this floor,
will say that his name seems now to be as
familiar to the children of Virginia as the
melodies on the lips of their mothers. His
fame is TO his political associates in Virginia
as a beacon light that has led them through
the valley Of The shadow into the meridian
splendor of cloudless day. "Alas! the old
Virginia is dead forever" some cry. "She is
the mother of statesmen no more" We
touch this hour the electric chords that bind
John S. Barbour to the hearts of Virginia's
people, and the reverberate music from
plain and city, from every rOse-hung river
and every ripping rilI, answering says, not
so; for on this very day our mother dedicates
to the service Of the republic son who is
worthy Of the traditions of her most Angus.
tan age Sprung from line of ancestors
whose genins has swelled many page of
her story, and whose names glitter like
planets in the great constellation of American
luriss and Statement, this man brings to his
country service heritage oftalent. blend
ed with spotless character and the ripe
experience of long and honorable public
life Although by nature partisan,
think may say ne is never fanatic. Liv
ing for years amid the fierce tumult of polit-
lea! strife, whilst around him have surged
and lashed the waves of prejudice and pas
sion, amid all that loud roar Of foaming ca.
umny be has kept his judgment cool, his pas.
sions te mpered, his sense ofjustice even and
serene To these qualities, perhaps, asmuch as
to his marvellous knowledge of men. he owes
the fact that although he has led the demo
crazy in some of The most bitterly contested
political struggles OF modern times, he is yet
an absolute stranger 10 defeat. To-day Vir
gnia gladly crowns him with the laurels he
has so bravely won. Our people demand
his election to the United States Senate, not
only as tribute to his worth and his patriot
ism, but because las has been said of anoth
er) "they demand q state smar: they demand
a reformer after. as we'll ae before the alec
ton they demand politician in the high
est, broadcast aud best sense-a man OF
suburb mora! courage; they demand a man
acquainted with public affairs with the
wants Of the people; with not only the re
qurements Of the hour, but with the de-
mands of the futuren The story of John s. |
Barbour's life forces me to the conviction
thai he measures fully up TO this standard. AS
president and manager for many years OF
one Of our great trunk lines of railroad, and
as member Of the General Assembly and OF
the National House of Representatives he
has proved beyond peradventure that he has |
:he ability and the integrity well and faith
f,ily to discharge all public trusts. He will |
represent this whole people in the Senate |
N % Ola COnIeuerate SOiuler De ne QenOC at or |
republican, need fear that John s. Barbour
will be ashamed to own him there. Yielding |
to no one now in allegiance to the starry |
flag that floats above q reunited country, he |
yet will guard with loving care the interests
of all men beneath it who followed the
Southern cross with Lee. It will be his sa
cred charge to defend and uphold the soyeI-
eighty of this Commonwealth and / know
4 hot bo mill RI foltar ho tr1tc nd
on all the great public questions that shall
come before that august body for decision,
believe his actions will BIO ever guided by
the high sense of duty which up to this time
has so Influenced his life and modelled its
as to make him to-day 1.-The centre
ola States dssire." Mr. President, this old
Commonwealth has passed through many
tribulations-yet forth from her agony and
bloody sweat, aud forth from her dark
Gethsemane she has emerged faith.
r,,l fo har Traditions of